Christmas Devotion for December 5

December 5

Joseph was not among the elites. He worked with his hands in the skilled trades. He was not a rich man but made a living as a carpenter. For a carpenter, there was always something that needed to be done. He was a man of integrity, referred to as "faithful to the law" (1:18). In Matthew, Joseph's righteousness and obedient faith are emphasized in his unusual role in the divine birth narrative. Joseph was also betrothed.

"This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25. NIV

In Matthew 1:18-25, Mary was found to be pregnant through a miracle by the Holy Spirit while she was betrothed to Joseph. Matthew's use of "genesis" in this passage (1:18) points to Jesus' divine origins, complementing the ancestral origins provided in the genealogy (1:1-17). The conception by the Holy Spirit (1:20) is central to the narrative.

Betrothal in ancient Israel was much different than being engaged to be married in our culture. The Jewish betrothal involved a legal contract. It could be broken only by an official divorce. Any sexual activity during this period was viewed as adultery and could carry the death penalty. Matthew, however, is not reporting a scandal but God’s intervention into human history. This was no ordinary human conception. God was at work!

The description of the Holy Spirit’s role in the virginal conception is quite different from Greco-Roman parallels. These so-called parallels all depend upon a god having sexual intercourse with a human. There is no hint of this in Matthew.

How would one know that this pregnancy was the result of divine intervention and not of sexual promiscuity, immorality, or rape? Joseph, a man who was just and righteous, likely doubted that Mary was innocent. Matthew records Joseph acting in a way that would reduce her shame and shield her from perhaps deadly consequences of adultery. Joseph planned to divorce her quietly.

But God was at work, revealing his plans to Joseph! Joseph should not fear because the child was a miracle of the Holy Spirit. While not the biological father, Joseph is Jesus's legal and adoptive father, a key role for inheritance and tribal identity. After the child was born, Joseph did what the angel had commanded and gave him the name Jesus. As a disciple, Joseph trusted God and was obedient to God. There was hope.

We can have real hope today by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone who trusts in Jesus and his death for our sins is forgiven. Everyone! Biblical hope is disconnected from circumstances and looks beyond this world and this life to what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ. It looks to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and hope. There is real hope this Christmas.

Christmas Devotion for December 4

December 4 Christmas Devotion

The countdown to Christmas Day continues with anticipation. It is a big day on the calendar. Christmas is a monumental event because it is about Jesus Christ. For many, when they hear Jesus Christ, they’re thinking Jesus is his first name, and Christ is his second name. Christ is a transliteration of the Greek word christos, which means “someone who’s anointed.” It’s equivalent to messiah, which is a transliteration from the Hebrew word mashiyach, which means “someone who’s anointed.” Jesus Christ means something like Jesus the Anointed One.

Matthew announces that Jesus is the Messiah (1:1), the true kingly line of David, and reveals the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah in Matthew 1:2-17. Matthew’s genealogy goes back to around 2,100 BC to Abraham. From Genesis, we know that it is from Abraham’s offspring who was going to be a blessing for all people. From Abraham’s line, a kingly ruler who would come would be honored worldwide (Genesis 49:10). Around 1000 BC, about a thousand years later, these promises were realized through David’s kingship. Here God gave a greater promise: a descendant of David would rule on his throne forever. As time progressed, the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell in 722 BC, and the Southern Kingdom was conquered and sent into exile between the years 605 and 586 BC. Though God eventually brought a remnant of his people back to the land from captivity, the Old Testament ended with the messianic promises unfulfilled. Some might have wondered if God’s promises had failed. With this background in place, we can understand Matthew.

The purpose of the genealogy in Matthew is to show the kingly line of “Jesus the Messiah” (1:1). This is observed in the first verse, showing that Jesus the Messiah is truly the kingly line of David, heir to the messianic promises, the one who brings divine blessings to all nations. The genealogy focuses on King David (1:6) on the one hand, yet on the other hand includes Gentile women.

The inclusion of four women in the genealogy is unusual because each of the women was an outsider to Israel with a questionable background. Tamar was a Canaanite who disguised herself as a prostitute to seduce Judah (Gen. 38). Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute who lied to protect the Israelite spies and helped overthrow Jericho (Joshua 2; 6:25). Ruth was a Moabite woman who moved to Israel upon the death of her husband. Finally, Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite; King David married Bathsheba after fathering a child by her and killing her husband (2 Sam 11-12). The inclusion of these women shows that God actively seeks to forgive, restore sinners, and reach out to those who are marginalized, unnoticed, and outsiders.

Finally, Mary falls in line with these other women by conceiving a child through virginal conception. The Greek text and English translation clearly show that Jesus is the biological son of Mary but not of Joseph (the Greek relative pronoun is feminine). Joseph was Jesus’s legal adoptive parent. He was not his biological father. Matthew intended his genealogy to show Jesus’s concrete historical and legal connection to David and beyond that to God.

Jesus is the unique Son of God. He is the Savior and King. Later, he died as a substitute for sinners to provide the hope of forgiveness for all who come to him in faith. Through Jesus Christ, God forgives, restores, and reaches out to those who are marginalized, unnoticed, and outsiders. He came to save his people from their sins (1:21).

The arrival of Jesus the Messiah is the culmination of the messianic prophecies found throughout the Old Testament, fulfilling a unified divine plan. From the early promises in the Pentateuch to the later prophets, the Old Testament builds a consistent case for a coming Messiah, and that Jesus' life and work provide the ultimate and definitive fulfillment of these prophecies.

In the Old Testament, there is clear hope of the coming of the Messiah. This hope develops throughout the First Testament with increasing clarity. From the very beginning (Genesis 3:15), God’s people were seeking the promised one who is also the Redeemer. This expectation continued right up to the time of Jesus the Messiah, who fulfills all these Old Testament predictions.

Christmas is all about Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, and his purpose is to bring forgiveness through the cross for anyone who believes. Celebrate Jesus Christ, our hope, this Christmas.

JOIN US FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SERIES THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AS WE DISCOVER GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY:

December 7: Good Tidings...According to Matthew

December 14: Good Tidings...According to Luke

December 21: Good Tidings...According to John

Join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (December 24) at 6:00 pm.

The Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 am. Join us!

Christmas Devotion for December 3

December 3 Christmas Devotions

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Mathew 1:1

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is for people who live in a dark world, for people living in the gray days of discouragement. He is the hope of Christmas.

When Adam and Eve rejected God’s rule through sin and rebellion, God made a promise (Genesis 3:15). In this promise, Satan (who had previously rebelled) was judged, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This promise declares that one day a descendant of the woman (that is, a human being) will crush the head of the serpent, Satan. But which descendant would be the promised one?

God narrows the promise of a descendant to the family of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). Here God told Abraham that he would make his descendants a great nation and that through Abraham’s offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Is Abraham the one? It becomes clear to the reader that he is not the promised one. The search for the promise one continued. But which person of all Abraham’s descendants would be the promised one? As the storyline of the Bible continues, the promise is narrowed down again to Judah and a ruler (Gen. 49:10), “the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

The ruler (symbolized by the scepter) will receive tribute and obedience from the peoples of the earth. Hundreds of years later, this promise narrows to a descendant of Judah named David. God chose David to be king. Is David the promised Messiah? Soon, it becomes clear that David will not fulfill the original messianic promise. Like Abraham, Jacob, and Judah before him, David’s life is marked by sin.

During David’s kingly reign, God sends the prophet Nathan to give David the following promise: “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16). A descendant of David will rule on his throne and over his kingdom forever. The Old Testament ends with this messianic promise unfulfilled.

Following the end of the Old Testament, hundreds of years go by, and still no promised Messiah. This intertestamental period, the approximately 400-year gap between the Old and New Testaments, begins with the end of the prophet Malachi's ministry (around 420 BC) and ends with the birth of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist (around 30 AD). This period was also known as the "silent years" because no biblical prophecies were recorded.

The wait continued for over 400 years until we read the opening words of Matthew’s Gospel with informed eyes: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). Matthew begins by declaring Jesus to be the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the long-awaited Messiah! This is tidings of comfort and joy.

Jesus came to save his people from their sins (1:21). Hope is bound up in the person of Jesus the Messiah. He is the promised one. May this bring tidings of comfort and joy this Christmas.

JOIN US FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SERIES THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AS WE DISCOVER GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY:

December 7: Good Tidings...According to Matthew

December 14: Good Tidings...According to Luke

December 21: Good Tidings...According to John

Join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (December 24) at 6:00 pm.

The Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 am. Join us!

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Christmas Devotion for December 2

December 2: The Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is celebrated worldwide. It is a festival that is both a religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a cultural event, including decorating everything from churches to homes, from simple candles in widows to extravagant drive-through light displays. But what is Christmas about? What is the meaning and significance of Christmas?

The Son of God entered our mess of darkness and hopelessness to rescue sinners. If we miss this point, we miss the significance of the cross and the meaning of Christmas. The Bible’s entire storyline unveils the hope of the Savior’s birth. Scripture’s story begins with creation and then records the historical fall of humankind in Genesis 3:1-7. Eve gave the fruit to her husband, breaking God’s command. While Eve had been deceived, Adam’s sin was clear disobedience and rebellion against God. Adam’s sin had serious consequences for all his descendants. That includes you and me. It is separation from God (Gen. 3:8-10), death (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:19, Romans 5:12, 14), and personal sin (Psalms 51:5, 55:3, Romans 5:12, 5:18-19, 1 Cor. 15:22, Eph. 2:3). What is sin? Sin is breaking the law of God. It is anything contrary to God’s Holy character. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The truth is that all people stand condemned before a Holy God. Left to ourselves, we are unable to change this reality. This is real hopelessness.

However, God brought hope through the promised unique descendant of Adam, who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). As the storyline moves on, God chose Abraham to serve as a channel of blessing for all the nations through his son Isaac and his descendants (including Jacob). The storyline continues as God chose David to be king over Israel. Not only would the Messiah be a descendant of Abraham, but also a descendant of King David.

The storyline’s movement to the Messiah marches through dark times. After Solomon’s death, the kingdom was divided into the Northern and Southern kingdoms. Then, both the Northern (Israel) and the Southern (Judah) kingdoms are conquered, and the people are taken into exile. After seventy years in exile, some return to the Holy Land, but the glory days of David’s kingdom have passed. The stage is now set for the Messiah.

Matthew opens his Gospel by introducing Jesus as the son of Abraham and the son of David. He organizes Jesus’s genealogy in three sets of fourteen generations. They begin with Abraham, to David, from David to the exile, and from the exile to Jesus. Luke argues that a large number of promises have their fulfillment in Jesus, the son of Adam, the Son of God. God was moving human history to the climax of His Son entering our mess:

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4–5).

The Son became a human being through the incarnation, “God sent his Son.” God’s plan to rescue sinners is found in the truth that the “Word became flesh” (John 1:14). Christ took “the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Phil 2:7). He was called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matt 1:23).

Jesus is no ordinary child. He had no ordinary birth. Jesus Christ is the virgin-born restorer of Israel and Savior of the world. This is the most important arrival in the history of the world. Through the arrival of his Son, who is fully God and Man, God the Father has provided a rescue plan for his people from separation, death, and personal sin. Jesus died for our sins and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Christ’s sacrifice, unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, is once for all. Christ cries, just before he dies, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Hebrews insists there is no more sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:26). Jesus’s sacrifice is unique.

Make this a special Christmas and trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of sin and guilt before a Holy God. God will forgive and reconcile sinners separated from him who trust in the death and resurrection of his Son. What is keeping you from trusting Jesus Christ?

What is Christmas all about? Are you looking for hope? Join us at Northmoreland Baptist Church as we discover GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY:

December 7: Good Tidings...According to Matthew

December 14: Good Tidings...According to Luke

December 21: Good Tidings...According to John

Join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (December 24) at 6:00 pm.

The Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 am.

Christmas Devotion for December 1

Christmas Devotions for 2025

December 1

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1:4-5

Since the day Adam and Eve revolted against God and plunged His good world into rebellion, human beings have been living in a spiritual and moral darkness dominated by evil. Herod’s cruel slaughter of the boys in Bethlehem is an all-too-common example of life in such a world. Darkness and death have spread throughout the world. The Apostle John attributes this to the fact that “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19).

But John's central message is of great hope, comfort, and joy for all people and all ages. God’s Son became a man. He is the God-man who came from the Father.

With the arrival of the child, Scripture’s story reaches an anticipated high point. Over two thousand years ago, a young Jewish girl gave birth to a son. He was no ordinary child. He was the unique Son of God. Matthew describes the purpose for his arrival, “… he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).

Hope comes from the eternal Son of God who took to himself full humanity. The Son became a man without ceasing to be God. John 1:14 explains what this means: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Son of God did not fake it. He is uniquely the God-man. Looking ahead in the Biblical story to Easter, Paul clarifies the meaning of the cross and why hope is found in Jesus Christ: “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Hope is precisely bound up with the Lord Jesus Christ and his work on the cross.

God rest ye merry gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan’s pow’r

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy.

The unique Son of God is the hope of Christmas for every person. Everyone who responds in faith receives forgiveness. No one who responds in faith will be stranded in darkness and their sins. He rescues every single believer. No one will be left alone, no one will be undefended, no one will be forgotten, and no one will be left hopeless. No one!

This certainly is good tidings of comfort and joy!

What is Christmas all about? Are you looking for hope? Join us at Northmoreland Baptist Church as we discover GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY:

December 7: Good Tidings...According to Matthew

December 14: Good Tidings...According to Luke

December 21: Good Tidings...According to John

Join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (December 24) at 6:00 pm.

The Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 am.

a Clear Understanding of the Gospel

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried and raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. He also appeared to Peter, then to the Twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Believers need to recognize and prioritize the Gospel, avoiding the reduction of it to mere religion and duty. The biblical view is that the Gospel includes lostness and condemnation, justification through reconciliation, and ultimately, the resurrection and full consummation. The Gospel must not be downplayed, otherwise our devotion and energy might be directed toward other pursuits.

Here are a few clarifying points for a right understanding of the Gospel:

1. The Gospel is all about Christ. It is Christ-centered, focusing on His person, His death, and His resurrection: Christ died for our sins.

2. In biblical teaching about sin, it is understood as an offense to God, and God is always most offended by our sin. God is full of wrath against sin, and sinners stand under His judgment. God sent the Son, the Son did the Father’s will, and God raised the Son. Christ died for our sins; the cross is a historical event. Christ’s death satisfies that wrath so that we can have peace with God: Christ died for our sins.

The clarifying points for a clear understanding of the Gospel will be continued in the next blog post.

Our Unwavering Committment

It is the summer season, and we here at NBC are planning a VBS in July. I thought I would devote a few posts to the importance of the Gospel as we prepare.

In the first century, the early church boldly proclaimed the Gospel—the powerful news of Christ’s death and resurrection for our sins, according to the Scriptures. There is one and only one Gospel.

In the early church, the truth of the Gospel was strongly embraced by faithful believers, and we must do the same today. Confidence in the truth of the Gospel ignites our passion and creative energy, compelling us to unite, to partner together, and declare this good news, driving forward the advancement of the Gospel. Our unwavering commitment to announcing the Gospel is paramount; it shapes and intensifies our creative efforts and enthusiasm. It is a matter of first importance.

We must guard against the dangerous assumption that we understand the Gospel without genuinely grasping the depth of its importance. If we fall into this trap, our energy and passion will be misallocated to trivial matters rather than focused on the core truth of the Gospel.

The gospel is a matter of first importance:

“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

He is not here, He is Risen!

Finally, resurrection day! But what is the resurrection? God prepares the reader for the concept of the resurrection in the New Testament, where Jesus raises specific individuals from the dead. One notable instance is when He raises the son of the widow of Nain just as the funeral procession is about to begin (Luke 7:11-17). Another prominent resurrection occurs in John 11, where Jesus brings Lazarus back to life after he has been in the grave for four days. This clearly demonstrates that Lazarus's resurrection cannot be confused with any temporary medical condition. In this context, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Martha has confessed her faith. “I believe that there is a resurrection at the end. I believe that my brother will rise on the last day.” And Jesus asks her, “Yes, but I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe that?” (John 11:24-26).  

Why the resurrection? Let’s start with sin. Sin is an offense to God, and the one most affected by our sin is always God. He is filled with wrath against sin, and sinners are under His judgment. Christ's death satisfies that wrath, allowing believers to have peace with God: Christ died for our sins.

What does the resurrection accomplish? Jesus rose from the dead, triumphant over sin (Acts 2:22-24; Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:3-8, 16-23). The penalty for sin is death, and the greatest power of sin is death itself. Christ's resurrection demonstrates that His atoning death not only paid the full penalty for sin but also achieved complete victory over the greatest power of sin. No one else in the history of the world has been raised from the dead in such a triumphant manner over sin. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be the Savior.

This is why the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is good news. Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. He was buried and rose again on the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4). Also, there were more than 500 witnesses to the resurrected Christ.

His burial confirms Jesus’ death, and his resurrection is confirmed by his appearances. His death and resurrection are tied together. His death and resurrection for sin is personal, meaning that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide the way to individual forgiveness.

Understanding that resurrection occurs solely through Jesus Christ is crucial. He alone makes resurrection possible, as powerfully shown by the extraordinary event of his own resurrection.

Is there anything preventing you from turning to Jesus Christ and trusting Him for your salvation through His death and resurrection?

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21) 

Good Friday: What the Cross Accomplished

At the time of his execution, Jesus was about 33 years old. His ministry, which lasted approximately three years, was marked by widespread popularity. However, this popularity led to opposition from religious and political authorities. They resented his influence and feared his growing power. In response, they held a sham trial and condemned Jesus. They then obtained the approval of the Roman governor to have him executed by crucifixion.

What did the crucifixion accomplish?

Jesus came, he insisted, “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus faced the looming cross in Gethsemane with an agony of prayer characterized by the repeated petition “Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). The cross was the only means by which God’s Son, Jesus Christ, sacrificed himself, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). The author of Hebrews affirmed, “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

The New Testament emphasizes the crucial nature of the substitutionary aspect of Christ’s death. In Romans 3:23-26, the apostle Paul writes, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement [propitiation], through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-36). Jesus is presented as the sole bearer of the wrath which sinners deserve established in Romans 1:18-3:20. It is precisely because of his propitiatory sacrifice (“his blood”, v. 25) that God can be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (v. 26). 

“He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). Our Lord announced that this was all accomplished when he said (John 19:30): “It is finished.”

D.A. Carson wrote, "It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father's will—and it was his love for sinners like me." Good Friday is “Good” because Jesus died as a substitute for sin. He died for you and me.

I need no other argument,
  I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
    And that He died for me.

This is the ground of our faith. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:25). Receive him by faith.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, our Subsitute Sacrifice

The Jewish festival of Passover was established to commemorate and recount the story of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt. The lamb that was sacrificed, which served as the main course of the Passover meal, symbolized the cost paid for Israel's protection and redemption from slavery in Egypt. God “passed over” the homes of those Hebrews who had applied the lamb’s blood to their doorways (Exodus 12:12-27). The Biblical text indicates that the Lord passed over each house to cover and protect it, rather than merely passing by it. This protection was meant to prevent the destroyer angel from killing the firstborn of the Egyptians, as declared in Exodus 12:23 and later described poetically in Psalm 78:49.

During Passover, the Jews also consumed unleavened bread and bitter herbs, which served as reminders of the suffering endured during their bondage in Egypt and the sustenance God provided for the Israelites during the Exodus (12:39). By eating the sacrificed lamb, the Hebrews not only remembered their history but also shared the Passover story with others.

On the night when Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover, a significant change occurred. He took bread, gave thanks, and told His disciples, “Take and eat. This is My body” (Mark 14:22). Then, taking the third of four cups of wine traditionally consumed at Passover, known as the “cup of redemption,” Jesus proclaimed, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (14:24). Notably, the fourth cup—the “cup of consummation”—was left untouched. Jesus explained, “I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (14:25). What remained was a substitute sacrifice in place of the guilty sinner. The next day (our Good Friday), Christ would be that substitute sacrifice.

 Isaiah had prophesied that, like a lamb led to slaughter, the Messiah would be pierced for our transgressions, and the punishment we deserved would fall upon Him (Isaiah 53:5-7). The Bible teaches that all have sinned and deserve one punishment: death. The following day, Jesus was executed on a Roman cross. It fully paid the cost of redemption. Paul wrote that Christ Himself is the Passover lamb, sacrificed for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Jesus Christ has come forward: the Lamb of God, provided by God in God’s plan, who bears our guilt as a substitute in his own body. From the Bible’s point of view, God owes us justice. God owes us condemnation. But because of God’s mercy, love, and grace, what he gives us is his Son, to die on the cross and to take our sins in his own body on the cross. Trust the Lamb of God and you will be set free of guilt and shame.

The Cross

As Good Friday and Easter approach, we can see crosses everywhere, displayed in various styles and found in many places. They appear in our homes, churches, and even as part of our jewelry. Today, crosses are recognizable symbols of faith.

However, in the first century, when Jesus Christ was executed in Israel, the cross was viewed very differently. It represented pain and shame. Despite this, the apostle Paul found the message of Christ's crucifixion to be central to his preaching and life. He wrote, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:2-5).

There was (and is) only one gospel: the gospel of Jesus Christ. This message of the gospel is communicated through the four canonical Gospels, which recount Jesus' birth, ministry, teachings, and miracles, and ends in Christ’s death, and resurrection to redeem sinners. Each account is so tied together that one cannot accurately unpack the accounts of his birth, ministry, teaching, and miracles apart from consideration of the cross and resurrection.  

 Later documents from the second and third centuries, such as The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Peter, and The Gospel of Judas, are often referred to as “gospels” but are not truly gospels because they omit the essential elements of the cross and resurrection.

 Paul boldly states that he is not ashamed of the gospel, declaring, “because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). We, too, should not be ashamed. He writes to the Corinthians that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The “incomparably great power” working in believers is linked to God's mighty strength demonstrated when He raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20).

As believers who have experienced something of the power of the cross, we must urge men and women from every tribe, language, people, and nation to “Be reconciled to God.” Turn to Christ and trust in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

The Triumphal Entry

While there is some debate regarding the timeline of Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem, our focus is not on the specifics of his entry into Bethany or Jerusalem. Instead, let’s begin with the Old Testament. Long ago, the prophet Zechariah, in 9:1-8, envisioned the day or the time when the Messiah would come to rule in peace over the nation. In 9:9 the prophet writes, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

In Matthew 21:5, we see that this event occurred, “to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet saying …,” then he cites Zechariah 9:9. The crowds shouted, “Hosanna … blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt 21:9). This expression also quotes Psalm 118:25–26: “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord, we bless you.” This Psalm will be cited twice more by the Lord Jesus in the next two days (Matt 21:42; 23:39) and again after the Last Supper (Mark 14:26).

The next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

In this moment, Jesus is presented as the Messiah: a humble and righteous king who brings salvation.

Some religious leaders, particularly the Sadducees, had previously already made up their minds about him (John 11:47–53, 57). Jesus knew he would be rejected and not accepted as the Messiah. Through his weeping eyes, Luke 19:41–42 records his words, “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’ 

Our Lord was welcomed as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. As He received their praises, He wept over Jerusalem because its leaders did not praise or welcome Him. While we understand what Jesus knew about that day, what about those who were present? If bystanders had been interviewed, what comments might they have made?

We should examine our response to the presentation of our Lord. Do we welcome Him with praise and belief? We should also consider those around us who respond with unbelief. May God use us to point people to Him, so they can embrace him in praise and belief.

Look for Leaders in the Right Place: Godliness.

Believers understood the power of God and sovereign grace in their salvation. 1 Thess. 1:4-6

The church in Thessalonica also knew that their faith in Christ Jesus and love for the saints was demonstrated in their work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul adds in verse 4, “knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.” God chose them, they did not choose him. They knew their complete depravity before a righteous God. They took no credit but instead lived lives of thanksgiving for his choice of them. Paul is declaring the fact that this church was known for understanding God’s sovereign grace in their salvation. What a reputation and truth to accept before the church and the world.

Gospel preaching 1:8

The godly believers at Thessalonica understood the power of God in salvation, and they boldly proclaimed the saving gospel of grace to the world. Paul states in verse 8, “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.” When we truly believe that only God can save sinners then we are freed and empowered to proclaim the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection for sinners. We know people will be saved because God can and does do it.

Changed lives 1:9, 10

Godliness loves godliness! A true test of godliness in a church is how they treat men sent by God to proclaim his word. In verse 9, Paul describes to the Thessalonians how they were known for treating preachers of the gospel, “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you.” Changed people treated God’s people well. They were a changed people. And a change people had a godly reputation

The church of Thessalonica had a godly reputation. Let that be our goal. Let us look for godly leaders from a church family of godly people.

Leadership should be linked to and flow from what the Scriptures portray as the kind of reputation churches should have. This contrasts with a reputation linked to and flowing from a philosophy of pragmatism, preoccupation with larger and larger churches, division, leadership untethered to scripture (by polling data, mob rule, bully pulpits, passivity, etc.), promotion of self, and ungodly leadership running and ruining churches. What should we be looking for in our churches when it comes to leadership?

First, we look for believers who Imitate the Lord Jesus Christ and are a model for believers.

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church provides examples of the Godly reputation the church at Thessalonica was known. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In 1:4-5 Paul writes about how this came about, “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

In 1:6-7 Paul reminds them, “You became imitators of us and the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”

The Thessalonian Church became imitators of the Lord and a model to all believers.

Now, that is a reputation!

Further, their faith in God became known everywhere. Paul again describes this multifaceted implication of following the Lord in 1:8-10, “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

God’s messengers can be mistreated and even rejected, but Lord-centered believers dare to tell others the good news in these difficulties (2:2). The church at Thessalonica was grateful for God’s messengers while subjected to difficulties. Paul reminds them in verse 6 that they “received the word in much tribulation” but “with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” It is sometimes costly to accept truth even before professing believers. God preserved these believers and sustained them.

What are we looking for in leaders? We should look for people in the church who imitate the Lord. Leaders must model this to other believers.

Leadership, Humility, and Personal Integrity

Leadership, Humility, and Personal Integrity

The character of a Biblical Leader is emphasized in terms of humility and personal integrity. Recently, the news of the fall of well known preacher and his ministry have made its rounds. Leadership is also a concern in NEPA in local churches. I thought this fb post from Owen Strachan was particularly helpful. If you are a leader, desire to be one, or are a faithful member of a local church, please read:

Just so we are square, God could take away every preacher, every historic church, every parachurch ministry, every seminary, every Christian college, every publishing house, every conference, and the gospel of Christ would still advance invincibly across the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 16:18).

This is because, as Christians, our hope is not in any man--any fallen and fallible man, that is, no matter how admired or appreciated or respected or productive or historically proficient. Our hope as believers is in Christ and Christ ALONE.

If the unthinkable happened, and God did take every preacher known to man--including your favorites--then Christ would STILL be the head of the church, the gates of hell would STILL fail to defeat Christ's people, and the church's future would STILL be infinitely bright.

Christian, I urge you in love: whatever you do, don't locate your hope in any fallen man (or ministry by extension). Join a sound, gospel-preaching church; join it and serve it. Honor your elders; encourage the body. But don't locate even 1% of your confidence in God's work in any fallible man. Men will disappoint you. Men will fail you. Men will get things badly wrong. Men will drift. Men will stop listening to wise counsel and friendly rebuke. Men will make the local church about them in subtle ways.

Men will fall into the Satanic trap of thinking that a given congregation is theirs, not Christ's. Great pain, sorrow, difficulty, and wreckage will follow when men sin not merely in normal ways (bad as that is) but fall into deep patterns of sin, closing their ears to rebuke, correction, help, and edification. Humility, practical humility, is always the first casualty of a heart that drifts from God.

Do not be confused, believer. There are no perfect churches out there. I lay no burden upon you to find one (after all, what am I but a fallen and fallible man, prone to wander every day I live?). But as much as you can, find a team of elders who point you to Christ, not themselves. God willing, these (fully imperfect) men will be true shepherds, men who love caring for the sheep, investing in the sheep, strengthening the sheep, counseling the sheep, discipling the sheep, and spending time with the sheep.

We have a great number of men today who like the platform of pastoring, but not the actual work of pastoring. They like the public aspects of ministry, and the praise that public work can bring, but not the private aspects of ministry (which is most of what sound ministry consists of). It is no easy thing to find a sound church today, sadly, but as much as you can, find a team of elders who exhibit loving, humble, and sound character. Join hands with them. Strengthen them. Above all, pray for them.

And even as you get involved, remember this: these men are not your hope. They are not Christ (not even close). They have not died for you. They have not risen for you. They are not returning to earth to gather you up and present you spotless on the last day. They are not the true shepherd of your soul. ONLY CHRIST IS.

Believe to Endure

Have you heard about the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11? The verses immediately prior to and following the chapter are very important.

For you have need of *endurance* so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. For YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. But MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY *FAITH*, AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. (10:36-38)

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with *endurance* the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of *faith* who for the joy set before Him *endured* the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has *endured* such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart. (12:1-3).

The writer of Hebrews employs an inclusio to show that the text for this chapter is Habakkuk 2:4 (faith) and the key word *endurance/endure* shows us that what both they and we need is *endurance.*

In the middle of the chapter this word is also mentioned: “By *faith* he left Egypt, not fearing the rage of the king; for he *endured* as seeing Him who is unseen.” (Hebrews 11:27)

We need faith to endure. The heros believed and endured. We must believe to endure.

Three Lies About Productivity

Three Lies About Productivity

(Guest Blog by Haley Cleveland)

I am zealous about productivity (which I use to mean everything under the ‘life management’ umbrella). In college I utilized planners and highlighters to balance three jobs and eighteen course credits—organization kept me on track to graduate. In my current stage, as a first-time mom, I’ve found myself especially drawn to podcasts on topics like organization, decluttering, and goal planning.

In many ways, the various aspects and priorities of life are like a puzzle, and I enjoy fitting it together in each new season. Yet I’ve been troubled by some of the messages sent through the various podcasts and articles on the internet—especially from Christian sources. Can there be a ‘dark side’ to productivity? I now think that there is. Let me give some examples:

On a recent podcast I listened to about time management, moms were encouraged to manage time according to their desires, not necessarily their family’s needs. For example, if you feel the need to go to the spa every week, (but it’s not doable in your family’s budget), then you should prioritize a way to make it possible to go to the spa.

Several books have been released, geared towards a Christian audience, with a “hustle” message. One resource encouraged moms who don’t want to stay at home to learn to “hustle”; they should work hard to build their own business so that they don’t need to be a stay at home mom.

On a decluttering resource I recently used, moms were encouraged to eliminate clutter as a way of exercising control over their stress, home, family life, etc.

Before I address some of the problematic messages, please don’t misunderstand me! I’m the biggest advocate for learning how to manage time, work hard, and deal with clutter. These are good things to do; but the real question is, why do we seek to do these things? Is it for personal satisfaction? Eliminating all stress from our life? Because it has a meaningful outcome for our family?

The resources I had stumbled upon had all these “why’s” and more, but they ultimately missed the biggest reason: As a born-again believer, my goal should always be to honor God and give God glory. They actually undermined God’s glory by promoting three lies:

Lie 1: You Actually Have Control

Minimalism is a rising trend today, and for good reason! Less stuff often translates to less work, cleaning, and even stress. But sometimes Christian “experts” in this field send the wrong message: that if you declutter and live a minimalist lifestyle, you will have a peaceful and stress-free life. Others suggest that you learn to manage your time well so that you can prioritize yourself. One podcast even suggested that moms treat themselves right now because they may not be able to in the future.

Ultimately, the messages they are sending are that you can control your life. Do these things and you will finally build and control the life you’ve always wanted. But what if decluttering doesn’t change your ungodly attitude, and your home still lacks peace? What if you have done all the time management tips and you are still having unexpected trials and struggles?

When we buy into the lie that we can control our lives, homes, and families, we’ve forgotten God’s sovereignty. This type of mindset only brings more anxiety, more desire to control, and fear about what can happen outside our sphere. Psalm 33:16-19 describes how kings are not saved by their armies and warriors cannot count on their strength—God is ultimately in control over our lives, not us! Verse 20 says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” God desires us to be wise and use our talents to take care of ourselves and our families, but it is not our own efforts that bring the outcome we desire. Rather, it is our souls finding rest and trust in God’s sovereignty—and isn’t soul rest what we really want?

Lie 2: You Can’t Serve Without Self-Care   

Many, many articles, books, websites, and podcasts (even from Christian perspectives) will encourage women to take time for themselves and practice self-care. I’m certainly not against a woman getting out of the house for some alone time, or spending money to go to the spa. The problem comes when we begin to prioritize ourselves above others.

Being a mom is a demanding job. Sometimes you bear the weight of other people’s selfishness when you are the one making sacrifices. You may be exhausted taking care of others when it seems like no one is taking care of you. Even if you aren’t a mom, you may relate to wearing yourself out.

We hear the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup”; and I think there’s some truth to that. But how do we fill our running-on-empty cup? As a Christian, my strength is not my own; it’s from God. I can’t pour from an empty cup, but God is the tea-kettle that is pouring into my cup constantly, providing me with what I need to pour into others.

Philippians 2 describes this type of mindset. Christians are to follow Christ’s example to view others as more important than themselves. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the ultimate picture of selflessness! Isn’t it impossible to serve like this, though? Let verse 13 encourage you: “for it is God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” In other words, we won’t have the strength or capacity on our own live out this type of humility, but God is at work in us! We don’t serve alone; God is our strength.
I don’t need to have more spa days or coffee dates to give me energy to do the job set before me (although I will appreciate those occasions as blessings and encouragements from God when they come!). We can turn away from mommy wine culture and recognize that all we need comes from God. Instead of living for self-care, try living in God’s strength to love and serve those in your life.

Lie 3: You Should Take Pride in Getting It All Done

There’s a certain level of arrogance that sometimes comes from those who make big life choices. Maybe you’re careful to buy organic groceries and prepare home-cooked meals for every meal. It could be that you organize every field trip for your homeschool co-op and others admire and rely on your efforts. Perhaps it’s simply working around the clock to have a clean house, or impress your supervisor at work. We are all susceptible to pride, and it can be very sneaky.

Podcasts and books encourage women to “love the hustle” and “get your life together”. I’m no stranger to this because I am motivated to work hard and I love seeing the fruit of my labor. It brings me happiness when I complete another weekly meal plan and see how much money I’ve saved in our budget. I get excited when I figure out a cleaning routine that works for our family (and saves me time and stress). I’m always researching planners and goal tools to accomplish more. These are all good things to do, but we shouldn’t take pride in them.

Every aspect of managing our lives is to be done through God’s grace and God’s strength. I am so thankful that God gave me a mind that enjoys planning, organizing, and improving practical skills. My family certainly benefits from that when I exercise these gifts. But when I take pride in our own efforts, something good becomes poisonous. Think about this arrogant statement: “my schedule is so organized and I do more than that other person!” If we try to “accomplish all the things”, shouldn’t we give God the glory? It’s never about us, or comparison, or self-glory. And, are we really foolish enough to think that we have it all together at any given time?

Pride and arrogance can easily creep in when we focus on ourselves, or rely on our own strength (hmm, revisit lies 1 and 2!). What if we desired to be a humble, godly woman who might not be perfect, but works hard—in God’s strength—to take care of her family and glorify God? I’m reminded of the positive example of the Proverbs 31 woman. This type of woman is a go-getter, hard worker, entrepreneur, organizer, manager, and the list goes on and on. Verse 30 describes her heart attitude: she fears the Lord. Her attitude and posture before God was reverent and worshipful. This was the key to the vibrant life that she cultivated—it was never about her!

I’m disappointed that Christian media promotes these types of messages to women. I don’t think that this is healthy or biblical. When popular media tries to sell you on self-centered, self-help messages for you and your family’s so-called betterment, compare the messages to God’s Word. The Bible is our ultimate standard; God’s grace is our ultimate strength. With the two, I think we can accomplish more and do more than we could ever imagine.

From Christ and to Christ: "Speak the Truth in Love"

We have all heard it, but do we know what it means to “speak the truth in love.”

This phrase is a part of a list of things that are meant to be an exhortation from the risen Christ; specifically, his decision to give “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers” to his church.

He did this, Paul explains, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). And this, in turn, will “build up the body of Christ.” The goal is maturity so the body won’t be “carried around by every wind of doctrine.”

Instead, it will find itself “speaking the truth in love.”

This will happen. This is God’s plan. Paul’s original intent is to direct believers to embrace this responsibility and the results of what actually will happen when the body of Christ is functioning properly under Christ.

When we engage in “speaking the truth in love” what’s happens? What happens to us? What happens to our church? How can we encourage it in our church?

Ephesians 4:1 reads, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” So, “speaking the truth in love” is something that will happen, because Christ, the Lord of the church, has ordained that it be so—and it is something that must happen, because we are called to obedience to Christ’s purpose.

Paul isn’t actually drawing a contrast in this passage between “speaking the truth in love” vs. “speaking the truth with a bad temper”. It is between the cunning, crafty, and deceitful words of false teachers and the honest, straightforward, loving words Christians should speak to each other.

A few tips to help us engage in speaking the truth in love:

Tip 1. If these words must include some kind of rebuke, it helps if the rebuker already has a pattern of speaking other truths in love.

Tip 2. If you love someone, it will go a long way toward making your words of rebuke able to be received.

Tip 3. Be driven by love, not fear. If you love a fellow Christian, this will drive you to care more about the negative effects their sin has on them than the negative effects their poor reaction might have on you.

Tip 4. Check your life before checking another’s.

Tip 5. Love brings questions before it brings accusations. Love will cover a multitude of other little sins so that the focus can remain on what’s truly serious.

Tip 6. There is no promise of a favorable response.

Concluding Exhortation

“(S)peaking the truth in love” is an essential function that lupercates what goes on in church. This is true whether or not believers respond or not. In Ephesians 4:15 the teaching is, Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. This mutual edification flows from the equipping ministry of faithful leaders, which itself, derives from the gracious gifts of Christ himself. Christ is the source, and he is the goal: “speaking the truth in love” is designed to lead to us “grow[ing] up in every way into him.”

Take this simple exhortation with you to church. Don’t forget it! It will encourage others from Christ and to Christ.

Part II

When we have expectations that God should “high-five” our desires or choices in difficult times from outside of the Bible, rather than giving us peace for our decisions, it will negatively shape our discernment. In Ezra-Nehemiah, miracles are conspicuously absent. Yet, reading Ezra-Nehemiah in light of previous (antecedent) revelation, shows that Yahweh had made Himself King in Israel at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 12-24 (1446 B.C). During the time when King Yahweh resided in the Tabernacle/throne room, manifesting his presence in the Glory-Cloud, He often intervened immediately—miraculously—in the affairs of His people. He continued to reign and manifest is presence until 592 B.C. when the Glory-Cloud departed, as recorded in Ezekiel 11:22-23. With the Glory-Cloud’s departure, that theocratic arrangement was judicially abandoned. That departure signaled the end of the theocratic arrangement. While his presence departed, the Abrahamic covenant God made is unilateral and binding on God (Gen. 15:1-21; see also Hebrews 6:13-18). It seems the theocratic arrangement had to do only with the form in which Yahweh’s relationship to that people was administered. The significance of the Glory-Cloud’s departure was not that Yahweh would no longer honor His covenant relationship with Israel and protect it from its enemies; it was that He would do so mediately rather than immediately, providentially rather than miraculously.

Israel did not need miracles to “high-five” their decisions. They had God’s Word. All they needed was to obey and trust God. His word really is sufficient. It is sufficient for us as well.

Ezra, Restoration Period, and the Word of God Part 1

Ezra ministered during the restoration period, the final stage of Old Testament history. During this period the Jewish people, captives in Babylon for 70 years, were allowed to return under the Persians to reestablish themselves in the Promised Land of Israel.

Ezra plays important roles in two Old Testament books, Ezra and Nehemiah. In the book of Ezra, he does not appear until chapters 6-10. Ezra Chapters 1 through 6 record the Jewish exiles’ return from Babylon under Zerubbabel and the building of the second Temple, events that transpired from around 538 B.C. to around 515 B.C., decades before Ezra was born.

Ezra chapters 7 through 10, tell of the marvelous reformation in 458 B.C. under his direction. Ezra is very involved in the effort to refortify and repopulate Jerusalem around 445 B.C., as recorded in the book of Nehemiah (8:1–13; 12:26).

The final stage of Old Testament history, the restoration period, is filled with heroes, adventures, political struggles, and military encounters.. Amazingly, not one miracle is recorded in this period. The remnant of Israel had all they need in God’s Word. This is context that this period and the reformation narrative recorded in Ezra 7—10 must be understood. All Israel needed was the Word of God. The Word of God is all we need!